A Step To You

Five

Yukti's pove

"Good morning!"

Aunt Arachana : "Good morning, Yukku !"

Poonam : "Hmph!"

Aaaaand... Gulki.

*Quietly sips coffee*

Anyway, what do I expect from her ? She clearly told me last night that she won't treat me well.

There are four seats at the table. Aunt Arachana sits beside Poonam, and there is only one empty chair beside Gulki. I gulped, then sat on the only available chair of course.

"Here you go," Aunt Arachana put some fried eggs on my plate. "Eat more, okay? I have prepared your lunch too^_^!"

"Thank you, Auntie." I side-glanced at Gulki. I have thought about what she said overnight. And I quite understand that she isn't used to this kind of arrangement. Also, she had seen my love letter, so she might think I would jump at her any minute (ಠ_ಠ) which I won't do of course! So, I will follow her two, er, three rules and maintain my distance from her. I will not take it to my heart whatever harsh words she would say.

It's the only way I can live here peacefully.

Besides, I will only stay here for one month at most. After that, we would be back into our normal lives.

"Yukku, until when will your club activity last today?" Arachana auntie asked after a while.

"Til 1 or 2pm."

"Ah.. it must be tough to be a club president."

"Quite," I smiled shyly, "but I enjoy it."

Aunt Arachana beamed, "You really are like your Father. Arun was a club officer too, back in high school."

Yeah. Mom told me that. Dad was the president of the Dance club at HAHS, when he was studying there years ago. That's why the club is very important to me. It's like my Dad's legacy--his passion for dance.

I saw Aunt Arachana look at her elder daughter. Right, Gulki has no club. I wonder if she knows why she quit...

"Don't you want to join Yukku's club, Gulks ?"

I caughed. I glanced at Gulki who seems unbothered.

"I don't."

I don't want to join a loser club led by a loser club president.

That's what she told me.

"Why?" Aunt Arachana asked, and this time, I looked at Gulki.

"Because," she crossed her arms, "I'm not interested." She stood up. "I'm going to study."

Aunt Arachana looked sad at her answer. She watched Gulki walk out of the dining room. I know, she is sad not because Gulki said she's not interested. She's sad because she knew that's not the real reason. It seems Gulki is quite distant to her mom when it comes to her personal feelings.

"Yukku ?"

I looked back at Aunt Arachana. I was surprised to see her smiling again. "Yes, Auntie?"

"Do you think you can... uhm, persuade Gulki to join your club? I mean, I don't know much about my son, but I am sure of one thing." Aunt Arachana leaned forward, then said in an undertone, "Gulki likes Dancing. I have seen her dancing along, secretly in her room."

"Really?!"

"Mommy, I will tell Gulks that you saw her secretly," Poonam said suddenly.

We both looked at her in shock.